We are partway through our mini visual learning project (for EAL students) to support learning in the homeroom classrooms. Grade 5 students are currently learning about Migration in our UOI “Where we are in Place & Time”. During EAL pull-out time (40 mins each day) we’ve been revisiting vocabulary and concepts on this theme. iPads have recently been made available on a ‘sign-up’ basis, so we have taken on a new project during this time to turn our learning and understanding into an RSA-style animation.
Part 1: What is it?
“The RSA Animate series was conceived as an innovative, accessible and unique way of illustrating and sharing the world-changing ideas…”
http://www.thersa.org/events/rsaanimate
As part of our learning journey, EAL students will be creating an RSA-style animation to illustrate their understanding of migration and reasons people move.
Central idea: “Migration is a response to risks and opportunities”
To get ‘motivated’ ourselves, we watched part of this RSA animation based on Daniel Pink’s book Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.
Why are we doing it?
We talked about how “A picture is worth 1000 words” and that drawings & illustrations can help us understand an idea even more.
By illustrating a migration journey, EAL students will have the opportunity to use language in a different way and visualize the concept of ‘risks’ and ‘opportunities’…just 2 of the many new terms they have learned for this unit.
How will we do it?
1) Read “Living in a Foreign Land”
2) Take out the key ideas that link with our unit on Migration and organize them under these headings:
* New Words (what words are new to you in this text)
* Why they left
* Challenges in new home
* Keeping traditions in new home
3) Make connections to your family’s reasons for moving to Indonesia.
4) Practice illustrating your words…how can you turn text into pictures?
Next Steps…
5) Practice oral retelling using PHOTOBOOTH. Share it with someone and ask: 
* Is it in order?
* Do the pictures illustrate what I am saying?
* Is it easy to understand?
6) Share and revise with FEEDBACK from class & teacher (stars and targets)
7) Choose a partner to work with and create your iMotion HD RSA-style animation!
Innovative Learning 
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I’ve really enjoyed watching this project in action, and this blog is a clear indication of all the steps along the way. I’m looking forward to seeing the results of all your dedicated work.
Brilliant work and the kids are producing some fantastic work. Well done to you and the EAL students in all that you are achieving.
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